Uniden BEARCAT 980 Owner's Manual

®

980 SSB

Owner’s Manual

Printed in China

U01UT561ZZZ(0)

CONTENTS

UNPACKING ................................................................................. 4

DESCRIPTION .............................................................................. 4

EMERGENCY OPERATION .......................................................... 4

CONTROLS AND FUNCTIONS ..................................................... 5

INSTALLATION ............................................................................. 8

MOBILE INSTALLATION .............................................................................. 8

Mobile Antenna ........................................................................................... 8

Connecting the Power Cords ...................................................................... 8

Ground Information ................................................................................... 9

INSTALL 6PIN TO 4PIN ADAPTER ............................................................. 9

MARINE INSTALLATION ............................................................................... 9

USING YOUR BEARCAT 980 SSB ............................................... 10

CB MODE ...................................................................................................... 10

BASIC SETTINGS......................................................................................... 10

ALL CHANNEL SCAN ................................................................................... 10

WEATHER MODE WX MODE .................................................................... 11

Set Weather Alert Mode ............................................................................ 12

MEMORY Mode .......................................................................................... 12

Save Channels Into Memory ..................................................................... 12

Scan Channels in Memory ........................................................................ 12

Listen to Channels in Memory .................................................................. 12

Clear Channels from Memory ................................................................... 12

MENUS ......................................................................................................... 13

Select Display Mode (Day/Night) ............................................................. 13

Select Backlight Color ............................................................................... 13

Set LCD Contrast ....................................................................................... 14

Set Brightness ........................................................................................... 14

Diagnostic Menus ..................................................................................... 14

Battery Check ............................................................................................ 15

Antenna Mismatch Check ......................................................................... 15

RF Power Check ......................................................................................... 15

EXIT Menu .................................................................................................. 15

OTHER FEATURES ....................................................................................... 16

S/RF/CAL/SWR Meter ................................................................................ 16

Calibrate Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) ..................................................... 16

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ................................................... 16

MAINTENANCE ......................................................................... 17

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................ 17

SERVICING YOUR TRANSCEIVER ............................................. 18

SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................ 18

TWOYEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ........................................ 20

RADIO CODE DEFINITIONS ...................................................... 21

Uniden is a registered trademark of Uniden America Corporation.
Bearcat is a registered trademark of Uniden America Corporation.

Features, specications, and availability of optional accessories are all
subject to change without notice..

UNPACKING

Your Bearcat 980 SSB contains the following:

 Bearcat 980 SSB CB 2-way mobile radio
 Microphone
 Mounting Bracket Kit
 DC Power Cord
 6-pin to 4-pin microphone adapter
 Owner’s Manual
 Part 95 Subpart D (FCC Rules)

If any items are missing or damaged, contact your place of purchase
immediately.

DESCRIPTION

Your Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB represents the highest quality
communications device designed for use in the Citizens Band Radio
Service. It will operate on any of the 40 AM frequencies authorized by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Citizens Band Radio Service is under the jurisdiction of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). Any adjustments or alterations
which would alter the performance of the transceiver’s original FCC type
acceptance, or which would change the frequency determining method, are
strictly prohibited.

Replacement or substitution of crystal, transistors, ICs, regulator
diodes, or any other part of a unique nature, with parts other than those
recommended by Uniden, may cause violations of the technical regulations
in Part 95 of the FCC Rules or in violation of type acceptance requirements
in Part 2 of the rules.

EMERGENCY OPERATION

1. Press 9/19/NORM or turn Channel Selector knob to Channel 9.

2. Press PTT on the microphone and speak clearly.

3. If there is no response, select an active channel and ask that party
to relay your emergency broadcast on Channel 9.

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All channels except Channel 9 may be used for normal communication. The
FCC reserves Channel 9 for emergencies involving the immediate safety of
individuals or protection of property. Use Channel 9 to render assistance to
a motorist. This is an FCC rule and applies to all CB radio operators.

CONTROLS AND FUNCTIONS

142 5 6

7

3

11

10

98

12

16

151413

1. Volume Control knob with Power On/O. Turn the knob
clockwise until it clicks to turn power on. Continue turning the
knob clockwise to increase the volume. Turn the Volume Control
knob counterclockwise to decrease the volume or until it clicks to
turn power o.

2. SQUELCH knob: Reduces background noise when there is no
incoming signal.

3. S/RF/CAL/SWR Meter: Displays Receive signal strength, RF Power,
and SWR reading.

4. Channel Number display.

5. Operation buttons and associated LEDs:

 Talkback: Talkback lets you monitor yourself when transmitting.

Press Talkback to activate the function (LED = on). With Talkback
active, press and hold the PTT button and adjust the talkback
volume with the Channel Selector knob. (Levels 00 - 15). The LED
will stay on for 5 seconds after you release the PTT button.

 RF Gain: Adjusts receive signal sensitivity. With RF Gain active,

press and hold the PTT button and adjust the gain levels with the
Channel Selector knob. (Levels 00 - 05). The LED will stay on for 5
seconds after adjusted.

 MIC Gain: Adjusts microphone gain. Delivers up to 100%

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modulation. With MIC Gain active, press and hold the PTT
button and adjust the gain levels with the Channel Selector
knob. (Levels 00 - 04). The LED will stay on for 5 seconds after you
release the PTT button.

 Weather: Press to toggle between Weather and CB channels. Turn

Channel Selector to cycle through the 7 weather channels. (LED
o = CB channels; LED on = Weather channels).
Press and hold to turn Weather Alert on and o. ALERT displays.

6. Channel Selector/MENU/OK. Press the inner MENU/OK button to
select a menu option or other selection. Turn the outer Channel
Selector knob to:

 Select channels.
 Select Night or Day Modes. Press MEM/SCAN to set up your

preferred day and night mode settings.

 Select menu modes.
 Change scan resume direction (up or down).
 Control Talkback volume.
 Control RF gain.
 Control Mic gain level.

All channels except Channel 9 may be used for normal communication. The
FCC reserves Channel 9 for emergencies involving the immediate safety of
individuals or protection of property. Use Channel 9 to render assistance to
a motorist. This is an FCC rule and applies to all CB operators.

7. Microphone socket.

8. Indicators turn on when the function is turned on.

9. S/RF/CAL/SWR: Press to check RF signal strength, calibration, and
SWR reading.

10. CB/PA: Selects CB (Citizens Band) or PA (Public Address).

Do not use the PA function unless an external speaker is connected.

11. MEM/SCAN: Press to start or stop scanning modes [All Channel
Scan (see page 10) and Memory Scan (see page 12)]. Press and hold
to set or clear channel memory while in Memory mode.

12. 9/19/NORM: Press to switch between emergency channel 9,

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channel 19, and standard CB channels.

13. Frequency Display: Displays the MHz of the selected channel. Also
displays menu options.

14. ANL/NB: Provides 3-way control of ANL (Automatic Noise
Limiter) or NB (Noise Blanker) features — ANL on, NB on, or both
ANL and NB on or o. ANL reduces external noise. NB reduces
interference from vehicle ignition systems.

15. AM/USB/LSB: Three-way switch to select AM, USB or LSB
operation.

16. Clarier: 1.5 kHz. Adjust Receive Frequency without changing the
transmitter frequency (Fine and Course adjustment).

17 18 19

22

20

21

17. Antenna socket: Connects antenna to the unit.

18. PA SP: Connects optional external 8-ohm, 4-watt speaker for use
as a public address system.

To prevent acoustic feedback, separate the microphone from the speaker
when operating the PA at high output levels.

19. EXT. SP: Connects 8Ω 4W speaker to remotely monitor receiver.

When the external speaker is plugged in, the internal speaker is o.

20. POWER +12 VDC: Connects DC power to transceiver.

21. FUSE 6A: Provides circuit protection to transceiver. Inline
replaceable.

22. PTT: Push-to-Talk. Push microphone button.

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